There is no doubt that the countries faced with HIV/AIDS have
to put forth their own resources for fighting against the epidemic. However,
since HIV/AIDS is now seen as a cross-sector development issue, the bilateral
and multilateral donors may provide assistance to national extension
organizations in handling the present situation and in avoiding the future
impact of the epidemic. Such assistance may be provided under umbrella
programmes of donors for, for instance, sustainable livelihoods, poverty
alleviation, peoples participation, and possibly others. The key areas in which
assistance is needed include:

Integration of HIV/AIDS in
ongoing extension programmes and relevant projects.

Formulation of new programmes
and projects keeping in mind the latest socioeconomic situation in AIDS-affected
areas, potential AIDS-related effects of intended field activities, and the
provision of safeguards against them at project identification stage.

The present priorities of donors have to be reviewed in light
of the fast changing situation in the continent because of the epidemic. The
reviews should be done with the following objectives:

National extension
systems should receive serious consideration for financial and technical
assistance both in view of badly needed HIV/AIDS education for rural masses and
the increasing danger of food shortages and poverty due to negligence of
farms.

The current trend to reform
extension organizations through privatization of extension services in Africa
may make sense under normal conditions but under current circumstances, its
justification needs to be re-examined in earnest.

Similarly, while extension
workers and farmers are struggling to stay alive by combating both the epidemic
and an imminent famine threat, the reforms like mandatory down-sizing of public
extension services through structural adjustment measures and charging
subsistence farmers for extension advice should be reassessed and adjusted in
light of the abnormal situation.